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Breaking News
Bombing at Matzoh Restaurant Kills At Least 15
Aired March 31, 2002 - 08:43 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We have another interview actually. The first time to talk with Dr. Zwi Ben-Yshai (ph), he's from the Rambam (ph) Medical Center. You know, this morning we've been reporting this explosion in Haifa, the port city of Haifa, if you're looking at pictures that we've been running all this morning from the Matzoh restaurant that has killed at least 15 people and wounded at least 35 others. Police are saying the blast was a suicide bombing. And we are going to talk with Dr. Yshai about the wounded.
Sir, can you tell us how many people have come to your medical center since the bombing took place?
ZWI BEN-YSHAI, RAMBAM MEDICAL CENTER: Well so far we have admitted eight casualties; among those, three were slightly wounded. But five of them seriously wounded. One of them I'm (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to say passed away on the operating table. So we are left with four seriously wounded casualties.
PHILLIPS: Are you still -- are people still coming into your medical center? Are you still receiving patients?
BEN-YSHAI: Not from the scene itself, but I know of one casualty that's going to be transferred to us from another hospital having been injured in his head. And (UNINTELLIGIBLE) only place where neurosurgical department is Rambam Medical Center.
PHILLIPS: Tell us the type of injuries that you are treating, doctor.
BEN-YSHAI: Typical injuries are shrapnel injuries all over the body from head to toe, seriously penetrating wounds. Typically from such a bomb that was exploding in this restaurant.
PHILLIPS: And you reported -- you're saying that you can confirm eight people dead at this point?
BEN-YSHAI: That what?
PHILLIPS: You are saying, you are confirming that eight people have died thus far?
BEN-YSHAI: No, unfortunately, the number has risen to 16.
PHILLIPS: Sixteen? BEN-YSHAI: Right.
PHILLIPS: And these are all patients that have been brought to your medical center?
BEN-YSHAI: No, no, on scene. On scene.
PHILLIPS: OK.
BEN-YSHAI: The information I have in my hands are now that the number of those who are killed is 16.
PHILLIPS: And, sir, where exactly is your medical center in proximity to where this bombing took place? How close are you to the Matzoh restaurant?
BEN-YSHAI: Well it's a few miles (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Haifa, as you know, is a city similar to that like San Francisco, I would say. A bay and a mountain above it. And they (UNINTELLIGIBLE) close to each other. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
PHILLIPS: Dr. Zwi Ben-Yshai, thank you very much from Rambam Medical Center. We appreciate you talking about the injuries and unfortunately the deaths thus far in this bombing.
O'BRIEN: All right. So at least one medical worker on the scene now confirming 16 dead in the wake of this latest suicide bombing. The fourth in five days in the Mideast.
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